Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovialoa remains one of the most polarizing players in sports. Every year, experts and analysts move the goalposts, shifting the narrative as to what QB1 can and can’t do. First, he was said to have a noodle arm and could not throw the deep ball, which he quickly proved utterly false.
Next, it was believed that he would be a YAC maven with speedy wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That, too, was debunked — until maybe this year, when teams started to defend Miami differently. But the point still stands. Even the injury-prone narrative he beat in 2023 when he started his first full NFL season. Ironically enough, he led the league in passing that season with 4,624 yards.
But last season, all of that went out the window when Tua Tagovalioa missed a handful of games earlier in the year after suffering another concussion in Miami’s week two matchup vs. the Buffalo Bills. At the time, EVERYONE had something to say about Tua’s injuries, but according to both Tua and his father, retiring was never an option.
In a recent interview with Kanoa Leahay and Billy Hull of ESPN Honolulu, Galu discussed Tagovailoa’s injuries and what his son told him when the two discussed the potential of retirement.
“Tua is doing well. He’s recovering. As a father, as a parent, it’s tough. I think it’s tough for any parent to go through something like this.” Galu continued, “But at the same time, the NFL is different. The way they do things. How they run things. It’s a whole different beast. A whole different animal.”
Galu continued:
“But at the same time, Tua is now married. He has his own family. And these are some of the tough decisions that he’s going to have to deal with in life. You know, decide whether the game is... he’s going to continue...the game is something that he loves. One of the things I talked to him about when he was going through the concussion, I was like, ‘Hey Tua, what do you think?’ He was like, ‘Dad, I love this game, and I will die on the field for this game.’ So that answers everything for me. But as a father, you have to take care of your life.”
Since being drafted 5th overall by the Dolphins in the 2020 NFL draft, Tua Tagovialoa has appeared in 64 games with the Dolphins, throwing for over 15,000 yards, 100 touchdowns, and 44 interceptions. His play on the field was never the issue; it was always his inability to stay healthy, something Tua Tagovailoa, Chris Grier, and Mike McDaniel hope can change in 2025 and beyond.
